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Golden State Warriors: How the Warriors can prepare for next week

By Derek Tahara

SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 04: A general view of head coach of the Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr talks with the team during practice at Shenzhen Gymnasium as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China on October 4, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 04: A general view of head coach of the Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr talks with the team during practice at Shenzhen Gymnasium as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China on October 4, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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The long wait is over. Warriors basketball is back next week on the 17th against the Houston Rockets.

Here are three things the Warriors can do to prepare for their season opener.

First, they can work off the jet lag that has nagged them the past couple of days, since being in China for some preseason games. Jet lag is not the best thing for anyone, especially athletes because they have to get back to their normal routines of practicing on their regular schedule. For example, Sam Amick of USA Today tweeted out a couple of screenshots to Klay Thompson and Zaza Pachulia‘s Instagram stories.

The photo on the left shows Thompson shooting inside the Warriors practice facility and on the right is a dark screen with the time and #Jetalag from Pachulia. Pachulia is jet lagged enough that he couldn’t spell jet lag correctly.

Hopefully, the Warriors will be able to shake off the jet lag in time for their ring ceremony and opening night against the Rockets.

The second thing the Warriors could prepare for next Tuesday’s season opener is by getting into game shape. There was one particular player who could use the rest of the preseason to get into better game shape and that’s Nick Young.  In one of Steve Kerr’s interviews, he addressed reporters by saying that Young looked a little bit “heavy” coming into training camp.

This last preseason game on Friday the 13th and the few days after will hopefully get Young into better game shape for the Warriors run-and-gun style of play and for the season in general. Young better get his body into a little better shape if he wants to play more.

Lastly, the Warriors could prepare for the season opener by setting an early rotation. It would go something like this: Stephen Curry, Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Pachulia, Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, David West, JaVale McGee, Young, Omri Casspi and maybe Jordan Bell.

The only reason I say maybe Jordan Bell is because there are two other centers in front of him, but Kerr could use Bell at the center spot to give Green some extra rest. The other nine players, excluding Young and Casspi are almost a given considering what those players are able to contribute to the team and having the chemistry already as a group.

We will see what kind of lineups Kerr will mix and match with at the start of the season.

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